[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44904-44909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21375]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command Representative, Guam and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (USCINCPAC REP Guam/
CNMI); Record of Decision for Military Training in the Marianas

Introduction

    The Department of Defense (DOD) through Commander, U.S. Naval 
Forces Marianas (COMNAVMARIANAS), as the designated USCINCPAC REP GUAM/
CNMI, pursuant to Section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C 4332 (2) (C), and the regulations 
of the Council on Environmental Quality that implement NEPA procedures, 
40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, hereby announces its decision to continue to 
use suitable DOD controlled lands in the Mariana Islands to support 
various specific military training activities to ensure the readiness 
of U.S. forces tasked with fulfilling regional readiness and 
operational contingency missions.
    The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) is 
responsible for an area comprising 105 million square miles (272 
million square kilometers [km\2\]). The force structure assigned to 
USCINCPAC is comprised of approximately 100,000 personnel in all of the 
military services. These military forces include active duty, national 
guard and reserve organizations stationed on Guam, multi-service forces 
assigned to the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Republic 
of Korea, Japan, and Okinawa. Forces permanently assigned to Guam, 
deployed forces in transit to the Western Pacific and Indian oceans, 
and forces tasked by USCINCPAC to participate in large-scale joint or 
combined exercises training in the Mariana Islands. The large exercises 
are designed for each military service to sustain its skills as part of 
a larger multi-service force. Primary training management 
responsibility is assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas 
(COMNAVMARIANAS) as the USCINCPAC Representative. Commander, 36 Air 
Base Wing (36 ABW), headquartered at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam, 
is also responsible for training management and support, which includes 
the strategic and tactical movement of exercise personnel and 
equipment.

Record of Decision

    This Record of Decision (ROD) addresses the continued use of 
suitable DoD-controlled lands in the Mariana Islands to support various 
training activities in a manner that maximizes the use of available 
training lands giving consideration to environment impacts. This 
decision ensures the military readiness of the multi-service forces by 
providing varying terrain for field training, amphibious landings, 
supporting airfields, amphibious craft and helicopter landing zones, 
parachute drop zones, live-fire small-arms weapons ranges, and 
underwater demolition sites. The lands used for specific training 
activities support day-to-day training requirements, as well as the 
more infrequent larger-scale exercises. The environmental impacts of 
activities have been fully evaluated in the Marianas Training Plan 
(MTP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    The areas controlled by COMNAVMARIANAS include military bases on 
Guam (Waterfront Annex, Ordnance Annex, and two Communications 
Annexes), the Military Lease Area (MLA) on Tinian, and Farallon de 
Medinilla (FDM), where the leased island and a three-mile safety radius 
comprise Navy Training Range 7201. Commander, 36 ABW, manages training 
lands at Andersen Air Force Base including its Main Base, Northwest 
Field, and Andersen South. The EIS also evaluated a few smaller 
nonmilitary properties on Guam, Tinian, and Rota presently used for 
specific training functions or proposed for new activities with the 
express permission of the landowners.
    The training lands available for training and applicable to this 
ROD include the entire island of FDM (206 acres [83 hectares] of leased 
land); 15,844 acres (6590 hectares) comprising the MLA on Tinian; 
18,100 acres (7,341 hectares) on Navy bases on Guam, and 17,534 acres 
(7,100 hectares) of Air Force property on Guam.

Process

    USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI analyzed the potential impacts caused by 
multi-service military training activities in an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) as required by NEPA. Military training and support 
activities were evaluated on three islands in CNMI--Farallon de 
Medinilla (FDM), Tinian and Rota--and the Territory of Guam.
    The Notice of Intent to develop the EIS was published in the 
Pacific Daily News on November 18, 19 and 20, 1995, and the Federal 
Register on November 28, 1995. Public scoping meetings were conducted 
on Tinian, Rota, and Guam in December 1995. Two iterations of the Draft 
EIS (DEIS) were distributed to federal, state, and local government 
agencies, elected officials, community groups and business 
associations, and interested persons in January 1997 and June 1998. 
During the 45-day review period, oral and written comments were 
received from between 25 to 30 correspondents. After public 
notification was provided in the Pacific Daily News and Marianas 
Variety, USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI conducted eight public hearings on 
Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam to receive additional comments during 
March 1997. The responses to all public comments were incorporated into 
the Final EIS (FEIS) which was distributed to the public on June 11, 
1999 for a 30-day review period and written responses were provided to 
seven correspondents with comments regarding the preferred alternative 
and mitigation measures.

Alternatives Considered

    Four training land use alternatives represent a spectrum of 
training possibilities: conducting no training; reducing existing 
training land uses; taking no (new) action; and increasing training 
activities and sites to encompass all of the training requirements that 
are identified in the U.S Pacific Command's ``Marianas Training Plan'' 
(MTP). The result of the evaluation is a fifth alternative, the 
Preferred Training Land Use Alternative for the Mariana Islands, which 
retains ongoing training activities and sites, and adds a few of the 
new training requirements in the MTP to maximize training land value or 
to eliminate training deficiencies. The alternatives were based on the 
need to maintain a high level of operational readiness and joint 
service operation capabilities among units stationed and operating in 
the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

No Training Land Use Alternative

    Land areas presently in use would no longer be used for training. 
This alternative could be selected for a portion of a training area if 
it were necessary to protect biological or cultural resources or to 
ensure public safety by totally restricting access. The No Training 
Land Use Alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative but 
is not the preferred alternative since it fails to meet the purpose and 
need for the proposed action.

Reduced Training Land Use Alternative

    Land areas presently in use would be used by fewer personnel or for 
less intensive training activities. Selection of this alternative was 
evaluated against ongoing training activities, which comprise about 90 
percent of the evaluated training land uses. The EIS

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did not determine that there were any environmental impacts of ongoing 
activities that require reducing training on FDM, the MLA and Guam's 
military bases as the preferred alternative.

No New Training Land Use Alternative

    The ``No Action Alternative'' for this EIS can also be defined as a 
``no new action,'' ``ongoing training'' or ``continuing action'' 
alternative. Training activities within existing sites, existing 
mitigation measures and training constraints would continue to be 
performed unchanged.

Maximum Training Land Use Alternative

    This alternative would include all of the training activities and 
training sites that were identified in the MTP, as well as expand or 
introduce new activities and sites. This alternative proposed expanding 
range training on FDM by incorporating ground artillery, mortar, and 
anti-tank rocket firing. On Tinian, this alternative proposed 
additional landing beaches in the MLA and the development of live-fire 
weapons ranges and training structures. On Guam, this alternative 
proposed additional landing beaches and underwater demolition sites at 
Waterfront Annex, live-fire weapons training ranges modifications at 
Waterfront Annex, and new weapons range development at Ordnance Annex. 
Andersen Air Force Base training activities would remain unchanged, but 
a new, permanent location would be selected for ongoing rapid runway 
repair training.

Preferred Training Land Use Alternative

    The selected alternative is the result of analyzing potential 
environmental impacts. This alternative encompasses a mitigated/
constrained set of ongoing training activities and the adoption of a 
few, but not all, of the new training initiatives to offset some 
existing training area deficiencies. FDM (Navy Range 7201) will 
continue to be used for naval and aerial bombardment. Training 
frequency and amounts of munitions to be expended on an annual basis 
have been determined. Impact areas have been modified to protect 
migratory seabird colonies, and Micronesian megapode habitat 
enhancement is underway on Sarigan Island as compensatory mitigation.
    The MLA on Tinian will continue to be a major field maneuver area, 
with two beaches suitable for landings by landing craft air-cushioned 
(LCAC) and additional beaches suitable for small inflatable raiding 
craft. North Field runways will continue to be used for airborne and 
airmobile exercises. The shared use of Tinian's municipal airport and 
harbor continue for exercise support activities planned in concert with 
civilian and commercial requirements. Live-fire training will be 
limited to Training in the Urban Environment (TRUE) scenarios using a 
World War II structure. Logistic activities will continue to be 
conducted by Naval Special Warfare (NSW) units on Rota to support its 
special boat team training activities that are conducted between Guam 
and FDM.
    Full use of Navy and Air Force bases on Guam will continue. The 
existing live-fire ranges on Orote Peninsula will be modified as 
proposed in the EIS to provide a fire-and-maneuver capability and 
stress course. A sniper range and jungle trail range will be 
constructed in the Ordnance Annex. Additional sites for underwater 
demolition training, established offshore of Dadi Beach and at the Agat 
Drop Zone, will be used to ease the frequency of underwater demolition 
training presently conducted in and near the mouth of Apra Harbor.

Training Constraints

    Limitations to training activities to avoid generating significant 
impacts have been established by COMNAVMARIANAS and Commander, 36 ABW 
within certain portions of training areas on FDM, Tinian, and Guam. 
These constraints will continue to be used as the primary means to 
protect endangered and threatened species and areas of cultural 
significance from impacts caused by military personnel and equipment 
being introduced into training areas by landing craft and amphibious 
vehicles, aircraft, and vehicles for subsequent maneuver, range 
training, and bivouacs. Constraints are also established to ensure the 
safety of personnel in or near active training areas. The constraints--
No Wildlife Disturbance (NWD), No Cultural Resource Disturbance (NCRD), 
and No Training (NT)--will be published in training orders, directives, 
and exercise plans as maps and overlays and distributed to the units 
responsible for day-to-day training and larger exercises. The 
restrictions on military activities can be summarized as follows:
    Within areas designated as NWD, to protect vegetation and nesting 
sites, forces are prohibited from conducting cross-country, off-road 
vehicle travel. During the nesting season of the threatened Tinian 
monarch (Monarchus takasukasae), field maneuvers cannot be conducted in 
tangantangan habitat areas. To reduce the potential for field fires and 
loss of vegetation habitat, the use of pyrotechnics or demolitions 
(except for emergency signaling) is not authorized. The use of live and 
blank ammunition is not allowed so that unexpected, disturbing noises 
are curtailed. Potential loss of habitat is also controlled by allowing 
no mechanized vegetation clearing and establishing the maximum size of 
brush suitable as camouflage material. Flight altitude restrictions 
have been established as necessary to protect endangered species 
habitat. No flights below 1,000-ft (305-m) above ground level (AGL) are 
authorized over known endangered Mariana crow habitat at Northwest 
Field. No helicopter landings are authorized except at designated 
landing zones.
    NCRD areas are established to protect known or potential cultural 
resources. Sub-surface disturbances are prohibited in these areas. 
There will be no cross-country, off-road vehicle travel, and vehicle 
parking is confined to surfaced areas and cleared road shoulders only. 
The use of pyrotechnics and demolition charges is also restricted. No 
digging or excavation is permitted without prior approval of 
COMNAVMARIANAS or 36 ABW environmental monitors. During major exercises 
on Tinian, authorized traffic routes through NCRD areas are marked with 
engineer tape to facilitate movement between the beaches and inland 
maneuver areas without impact. NCRD constraints maps have been included 
in a recently developed Programmatic Agreement and a Memorandum of 
Agreement executed to protect cultural resources in the CNMI and Guam.
    Areas designated as NT are off-limits, meaning that there is 
absolutely no training allowed in these areas. Entry to some of these 
areas can be authorized for administrative troop and vehicle movement 
on designated roads or trails only. NT areas have been established to 
protect both endangered species habitat and areas of particularly 
sensitive cultural value. NT areas are also established for safety 
purposes in the vicinity of the munitions storage areas on Andersen Air 
Force Base and the Ordnance Annex.

Environmental Impacts

    USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI has analyzed the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts of proposed training in the Mariana Islands across a 
spectrum of alternatives ranging from no training activities to 
maximizing training by adopting all of the activities published in the 
MTP. Each alternative was evaluated for potential effects on the 
physical environment (climate, geology and hydrology, water quality, 
air quality, noise, visual setting/aesthetics, and natural hazards and

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constraints), biological environment (terrestrial and marine), cultural 
resources (archaeological and historical), infrastructure, utilities 
and public services, and the socioeconomic environment on the affected 
islands.
    The alternatives were also evaluated with respect to their 
consistency with policies established by Executive Orders for Federal 
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income 
Populations, Coral Reef Protection, Protection of Wetlands, Protection 
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks, and 
Invasive Species.
    From the outset, three training activities were identified as 
environmentally controversial and potentially significant. One was the 
potential for damage to nearshore coral caused by contact with landing 
craft utility (LCU) and tracked assault amphibian vehicles (AAVs) on 
Tinian and Guam. Beaches free of nearshore coral and suitable for 
landing craft and AAVs were identified at the Waterfront Annex. No 
suitable site for displacement hull LCUs and AAVs was found in the MLA 
on Tinian, and therefore, LCU/AAV landings will remain confined to 
Tinian Harbor. Potential impacts to coral in shallow nearshore waters 
and reefs by landing craft, air-cushion (LCAC) were evaluated in a 
marine biological survey at Unai Chulu, Tinian. No significant impacts 
are caused by the LCAC when operated within acceptable parameters. A 
similar marine biological survey will be conducted to revalidate the 
lack of impacts to shallow coral by LCAC landings at Unai Dankulo, 
Tinian and Dadi Beach, Guam. Potentially significant damage to 
nearshore coral has been eliminated by identifying the suitable types 
of craft that will be allowed to use each landing beach on Tinian and 
Guam.
    The second issue was underwater demolition training by Explosive 
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and NSW units that cause portions of Apra 
Harbor to be temporarily closed to other uses and may have a 
significant impact on marine species. Closure of the harbor, which 
interferes with commercial boating and diving activities, will be 
minimized by use of additional underwater training sites in open ocean 
waters to lessen the frequency of use of Apra Harbor. Training site 
selection will favor the ocean sites unless weather conditions dictate 
otherwise. USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI continues to work with Guam 
Environmental Protection Agency (Guam EPA) and Division of Aquatic and 
Wildlife Resources (DAWR) to select additional sites and to continue 
using demolition training protocol that minimizes potential impacts to 
marine biota and provides advance coordination with affected commercial 
enterprises. Although potentially significant impacts are not 
anticipated, the activity may remain controversial with respect to the 
commercial ocean recreation sector and government agencies responsible 
for protection of endangered and threatened marine species.
    The continued use of FDM as a naval gunfire and aerial bombardment 
range is the third issue. Used as a bombardment range since at least 
1971, the island has been the subject of a series of biological 
evaluations by federal, commonwealth, and military experts. Although 
the bombardment of FDM may significantly impact endangered species and 
habitat vegetation, no alternative bombardment range sites are 
available to USCINCPAC forces for this training requirement. Therefore, 
compensatory mitigation measures have been enacted in cooperation with 
U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and 
CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to enhance the population of 
the endangered Micronesian megapode on Sarigan, another uninhabited 
island in the CNMI. Mitigation measures include controlling the types 
and amounts of ordnance to be dropped and confining the impact areas to 
minimize impacts on biological resources. The Navy will conduct aerial 
evaluations of vegetation habitat and birds in conjunction with major 
bombardment activities. The condition of nearshore coral and the 
effects of bombardment on the marine environment will be surveyed 
annually for the next three years by USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI in 
cooperation with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), USFWS, and 
CNMI DFW.

Environmental Mitigation

    COMNAVMARIANAS analyzed the potential impacts of the selected 
action on the following: natural or biological resources, cultural 
resources, environmental quality, infrastructure deficiencies on 
Tinian, public safety, and socioeconomic quality.

Natural Resources

    In addition to identifying areas subject to NWD or NT constraints, 
mitigation measures to reduce training impacts to nonsignificant levels 
include adhering to operational requirements for beach landing craft to 
minimize impacts to shallow reefs and nearshore coral, requiring 
qualified biologists to conduct pre-training surveys to ensure that 
training will not impact sea turtle nesting, and adhering to updated 
brown tree snake (Boigus irregularis) control and interdiction methods 
to prevent the introduction and proliferation of the BTS from Guam to 
other locations. These and other mitigation measures identified in the 
FEIS are now in effect and will be published in Navy and Air Force 
training orders, directives, and plans. The BTS Control and 
Interdiction Plan will be updated and published as a COMNAVMARIANAS 
directive to regulate routine as well as training material/cargo 
movement from Guam.
    With the exception of the continued use of FDM as a naval gunfire 
and aerial bombardment range, the Preferred Training Land Use 
Alternative does not significantly impact listed threatened or 
endangered species. Impacts are reduced to nonsignificant levels by 
establishing training area boundaries, implementing mitigation measures 
and training constraints, and conducting environmental monitoring and 
evaluation. Particular attention has focused on enhancing endangered 
Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperous) habitat in the CNMI, 
protecting the threatened Tinian monarch (Monarcha takasukasae) during 
nesting seasons, restricting maneuver in areas of Mariana common 
moorhen (Gallinula chloropus guami) habitat, causing little or no 
disturbance to the island swiflet (Aerodramus vanikorensis bartschi) 
and three species of federal and Guam endangered fruit bats, and 
restricting maneuver in areas of Ordnance Annex recently identified as 
habitat of tree snails being considered for federal listing. Mariana 
crow (Corvus kubaryi) nests at Northwest Field will continue to be 
monitored by Guam Division of Aquatics and Wildlife Resources (DAWR). 
As nesting activities are found, this information will be made known to 
Flight Operations to ensure no overflights at unauthorized altitudes. 
Protective measures for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and 
green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are in place to minimize or avoid 
impacts on these species that may enter training beaches and open 
waters during amphibious training and underwater demolitions.
    On FDM, migratory seabirds, federally endangered Micronesian 
megapodes and Mariana fruit bats may be killed by ordnance or displaced 
by a loss of habitat. These impacts are mitigated by avoiding certain 
munitions and by relocating targets so that the majority of ordnance 
delivered will avoid the most sensitive areas for nesting and roosting 
birds. Formal consultation in accordance with Section 7 of the

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Endangered Species Act has been completed and the protective measures 
recommended in the biological opinions of USFWS and NMFS have been 
adopted.
    Due to the increased danger of field fires being caused by training 
during periods of drought and high winds, fire prevention and response 
plans will be enforced at all ranges and maneuver areas. During periods 
of high risk, training activities with potential fire-causing effects 
will be suspended as necessary. Crash-fire-rescue (CFR) vehicles will 
be available during flight operations in case of a crash and resulting 
fire.

Cultural Resources

    The Preferred Training Land Use Alternative would not significantly 
impact sites listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of 
Historic Places (NRHP). Such sites located on land and off-shore could 
be damaged by off-road vehicles, construction, rapid runway repair, 
excavation, vandalism, small arms and mortar fire, and shock waves 
generated by deepwater explosives. These impacts will be mitigated to 
nonsignificant levels by designating areas with listed or eligible NRHP 
sites as ``No Training'' or ``No Cultural Resources Disturbance'' 
areas, which would prohibit digging within three feet of historic 
structures with concrete walls or in any cave, require pre-training 
archaeological surveys in historic structures used for urban warfare 
scenarios, and require post-training evaluation for evidence of impacts 
that would require additional mitigation. The consultation process with 
the CNMI and Guam Historic Preservation Offices has been completed in 
accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
of 1966, 16 U.S.C. 470f (1994). A Programmatic Agreement has been 
signed by the USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI, CNMI Historic Preservation 
Officer, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) 
regarding the conduct of military training on Tinian. The agreement 
(signed in June 1999), provides direction in the identification of 
historic properties, establishment of constrained areas, instructions 
to training participants, field mitigation and monitoring, coordination 
of training program revisions, response to public objections, reporting 
requirements and proposed long-term site protection at Unai Chulu, 
Tinian. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in June 1999 by the 
USCINCPACREP GUAM/CNMI, COMNAVMARIANAS, 36th ABW, Guam Historic 
Preservation Officer, and the ACHP identifies protective measures to be 
carried out while developing live-fire weapons ranges in the Ordnance 
Annex and activities on Northwest Field. The MOA also addresses the 
continued use of constraints maps as one means to protect cultural 
resources from training impacts.

Environmental Quality

    The Preferred Training Land Use Alternative would not have a 
significant impact on air quality, climate, geology, surface water 
quality, flooding, or groundwater. Existing military standing operating 
procedures (SOPs) and regulations prevent significant impacts on these 
resources. Major construction projects once proposed on Tinian that 
could have impacted groundwater quality will not be conducted at this 
time. If any construction is proposed in the future, appropriate 
environmental evaluations would be conducted. The concern that live-
fire ranges could cause lead contamination in groundwater has been 
eliminated since there will be no small arms range development. The 
military is also developing lead-free small-arms ordnance for all range 
training.

Tinian Infrastructure

    Wastewater disposal has been a major logistic issue for all large-
scale exercises. Tinian presently has no large-scale municipal 
wastewater treatment facility and there has been concern that temporary 
overuse of the systems would impact groundwater resources, air quality, 
and public health. Leasing portable toilets, contracting pumping 
services and disposing wastes in municipal systems was the standard 
practice to handle large quantities of black-water wastes. The shared 
use of municipal septic tanks during major exercises is no longer 
necessary. Navy Public Works constructed a septic tank and leach field 
based on the requirement to support up to 2,500 exercise personnel. 
This tank was first available during Tandem Thrust 99 (March-April 
1999). Its availability has eliminated concerns about cumulative 
impacts on the island's municipal system capacity.
    Tinian has no EPA-approved solid waste landfill and no hazardous 
waste or hazardous material handling facility. Training activities 
routinely generate varying amounts of solid waste (primarily cardboard 
and paper) and may generate very small amounts of hazardous materials 
and used oil. Collecting, compacting, and transporting solid wastes off 
Tinian will continue as a requirement for any military exercise on 
Tinian. The Tinian municipal landfill will not be used. Hazardous 
materials, used oils and expended lithium batteries will be handled as 
stipulated in exercise plans for removal from the island of Tinian to 
authorized waste streams. Maintenance activities that could generate 
hazardous materials will be minimized while on Tinian, with scheduled 
maintenance conducted on military bases or while aboard ship.

Public Safety

    The Preferred Training Land Use Alternative would not have a 
significant impact on public health and safety. The COMNAVMARIANAS 
policy limiting access to FDM remains in effect, allowing only active 
duty, DoD-trained explosive-qualified personnel responsible for range 
operations and maintenance. The proposal to expand the range for firing 
ground weapons such as artillery, mortars, and anti-tank missiles is 
not approved due to the existence of unexploded ordnance throughout the 
island. Biological surveys will continue to be conducted from the air 
by helicopter.
    Range safety and control measures are presently in place on Guam at 
Orote Peninsula, the Communications Annex at Finegayan, and Andersen 
Air Force Base. Risks to public safety from projectiles from small arms 
and rifle ranges will be avoided by adhering to range regulations, 
conducting required range area sweeps and surveillance during training 
on affected land and water areas, installing and maintaining coastal 
warning devices of the presence of ranges, and temporarily restricting 
range access when necessary. Prior to the activation of new and 
modified live-fire training ranges on Guam, the ranges will be 
evaluated and certified by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. At 
the Ordnance Annex, the design will also be reviewed and approved by 
the Naval Ordnance Command. The orientation of the sniper firing range 
at Ordnance Annex has been modified to avoid intersection of the 
range's Surface Danger Zone and a public hiking trail that infringes 
Navy property.
    The proposed small arms fire and maneuver range will not be 
constructed on Tinian at this time. An alternative fire-and-maneuver 
range site is being developed on a former small arms range at Orote 
Point on Guam. This decision eliminates potential safety impacts to 
civilians or non-training personnel who could encroach on the range 
training area.
    The proposed 60mm mortar range will not be developed on Tinian. 
This eliminates potential safety risks due to unexploded ordnance 
remaining in

[[Page 44908]]

areas that could be encroached by the public and difficult to control 
access restrictions to 100 percent certainty.
    Proposed construction of a permanent shooting house or breacher 
trainer will not be undertaken on Tinian at this time. Whenever the 
former World War Two Japanese Command Center is in use as a shooting 
house, area access will be restricted. Alternative urban training 
facilities are also available on Guam.
    Notice to Airmen (NOTAMS) and Notice to Mariners (NOTMARS) will be 
published and broadcast to forewarn of naval gunfire and aerial 
bombardment at FDM. The island range and its three-mile radius surface 
danger zone will be surveyed prior to commencing training to ensure 
that the area is clear of all non-training related activity.
    Potential impacts between civilian and military aircraft will be 
avoided through the coordinated efforts of military and FAA air traffic 
controllers in accordance with military SOPs and FAA regulations. 
NOTAMS will be published in advance of training that involves the use 
of airspace over FDM, Tinian and Guam.
    There will be no hazards to ordnance, fuel storage, and personnel 
from electromagnetic radiation during training. Required clearance 
distances are maintained between field emitter sites and ordnance, 
fuel, and personnel. There would be no risk to public health caused by 
transmissions from the International Broadcasting Bureau's site 
recently constructed in the MLA on Tinian. The acreage has been removed 
from the areas in the MLA used for training.
    Impacts to boaters and divers from shallow and deepwater mines will 
be avoided by continuing to clear and patrol demolition sites and 
exclusion zones prior to all exercises. To avoid potential sympathetic 
detonation of depth charges located on the Tokai Maru, a sunken 
Japanese World War II vessel in Outer Apra Harbor, the present 
demolition site will remain unchanged and the size of the explosive 
charge limited to ten pounds.
    Civilian ports of entry will not be significantly impacted. On 
Tinian and Rota, approval from civilian authorities will be obtained 30 
days prior to any exercise. To avoid significant impacts on customs and 
immigration services, local authorities will be notified 30 days prior 
to large exercises. Noise impacts from training at Tipalao and Dadi 
beaches will be temporary. To eliminate potentially significant 
impacts, training will be conducted during the day.
    The Preferred Training Land Use Alternative will not have a 
significant impact on roadways and traffic. Military traffic control 
will be used as necessary to move military convoys through Tinian town. 
AAVs using public roads will have track pads installed to avoid 
damaging road surfaces.

Socioeconomic Environment

    Tinian's relatively small population is isolated from many economic 
opportunities that are available to Saipan residents. Training 
activities offer potential economic benefits through the purchase of 
local goods and services. Temporary exclusion of tours from active 
training sites in the EMUA could have a negative effect. One casino 
hotel has opened and another is planned, and cumulative socioeconomic 
impacts may result from the combination of military training and 
increased tourism.
    USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI will continue to provide advance 
information to CNMI agencies and affected commercial enterprises 
whenever military training safety considerations require temporary 
restrictions to areas on Tinian normally open to the public. Affected 
agencies and firms have requested at least a 30-day notice, which in 
almost all instances can be accommodated. This interaction will include 
the CNMI and Tinian municipal governments, the Commonwealth Port 
Authority, and tourist agencies in advance of all training on Tinian 
that may interfere with tourist activities in the MLA, nearshore waters 
or the harbor. Whenever active training is not taking place in portions 
of the MLA, these areas will be opened to visitors.
    Underwater demolition by EOD and NSW units in Guam's Outer Apra 
Harbor requires certain areas of the harbor (including a number of 
popular dive sites) to be closed to civilian activities once a month 
for approximately four hours. This public safety measure may cause loss 
of income to commercial boat and dive operators. SOPs practiced by EOD 
and NSW units will continue to provide advance information to affected 
commercial firms so that they can seek alternative dive, boating and 
fishing sites during the temporary closures. This process will continue 
along with the use of NOTMARs and coordination with GEPA and DAWR to 
actively observe and monitor training.

Executive Orders

    The FEIS considered federal policies under Executive Orders 
pertaining to Environmental Justice, Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health and Safety Risks, Protection of Wetlands, Coral 
Reef Protection, and Invasive Species, to ensure that training will be 
conducted in compliance with said policies and that appropriate 
mitigation actions will be taken to eliminate or reduce potentially 
significant impacts.
    Preventive practices to address the potentially significant impacts 
that could be caused by brown tree snakes have been addressed and 
remain a subject of periodic review and updates to ensure that the 
latest proven methods have been incorporated. Appendix E of the FEIS 
compiles the measures taken to prevent BTS impacts to date. An updated 
order defining BTS control/interdiction protocols will be published by 
COMNAVMARIANAS.
    The prevention of coral damage or destruction was a primary 
criterion in selecting beaches for landings by displacement hull 
landing craft and tracked amphibious assault vehicles. The lack of 
impact to shallow coral by LCACs was demonstrated at Unai Chulu, 
Tinian, and similar studies will be conducted at Unai Dankulo, Tinian, 
and Dadi Beach, Guam, prior to final approval as LCAC landing sites.

Marianas Training Management Regulations

    Implementation of the Preferred Training Land Use Alternative 
requires the COMNAVMARIANAS and 36th ABW to implement mitigation 
measures and training constraints for their respective areas of 
responsibility and to cooperate in monitoring and corrective measures. 
The mitigation and constraints identified in the FEIS will be 
incorporated into training orders and directives. Compliance with these 
directives is the responsibility of each military organization involved 
in Marianas training. The military will conduct advance coordination as 
needed with agencies of the territorial and commonwealth governments 
and affected commercial enterprises to avoid training area use 
conflicts.

Comments Received on FEIS

    The CNMI Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) identified an 
additional cultural resource site in the vicinity of Unai Dankulo, 
Tinian. The training constraints map for Tinian training will be 
modified to incorporate an additional NCRD area south of the landing 
beach site. The HPO also expressed concern regarding the lack of an 
archaeological survey on FDM. Conducting such a survey is not feasible 
due to potential danger to the surveyors since the island is an impact 
area and replete with unexploded ordnance.
    CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) commented

[[Page 44909]]

on the need to follow LCAC operational protocols to protect the beach 
environment. The lessons learned during LCAC operations at Unai Chulu, 
Tinian during Tandem Thrust 99 will be incorporated into COMNAVMARIANAS 
training orders. The department's Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) 
suggested a change in the timing for setting up portable BTS barriers 
at cargo points on Guam and Tinian. When updating the BTS Control/
Interdiction protocols, the process for using portable snake barriers 
at ports of entry and shipment will be defined by military 
representatives and CNMI, Guam, and federal regulators.
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX commented on the 
BTS Control/Interdiction Plan update requirement, compensatory 
mitigation measures for impacted biological resources, and prevention 
of impacts by amphibious landings during coral spawning. COMNAVMARIANAS 
will continue to monitor and mitigate these concerns as necessary.
    Guam Environmental Protection Agency has concerns regarding 
training at the Waterfront Annex's Dadi Beach and instead, favors the 
use of the beach and waters at Tipalao for amphibious landings and 
underwater demolition training. Site surveys and evaluations between 
the Navy and GEPA will continue in regard to any activities at either 
beach.
    U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, Wildlife Services provided a 
list of lessons learned from Tandem Thrust 99 that will be incorporated 
in the updated BTS Control/Interdiction directive.
    U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife also identified 
the need to update the COMNAVMARIANAS BTS Control/Interdiction Plan, 
initiate compensatory mitigation for impacts to migratory seabirds on 
FDM, and to initiate a Section 7 Endangered Species Act consultation 
for target placement on FDM. This agency participated in the 
development of the 1996 BTS Control/Interdiction Plan and will be asked 
to participate in the process to update the plan as a COMNAVMARIANAS 
BTS Control/Interdiction directive. Compensatory mitigation measures 
will continue for endangered and threatened species. Target material 
selection and placement is an ongoing action, which will be 
incorporated in the update of the BTS Control/Interdiction directive.

Conclusion

    USCINCPACREP GUAM/CNMI, in cooperation with federal, territorial 
and commonwealth regulatory agencies, will conduct all necessary steps 
to avoid or minimize environmental harm that could be caused by 
military training.
    The Preferred Training Land Use meets the purpose and need to train 
in the Mariana Islands while avoiding or minimizing impacts on the 
existing environment. The preferred alternative and its mitigation and 
constraints are fully responsive to the concerns expressed by 
regulatory agencies and members of the public, local economic 
conditions, and required levels of public safety. Although the ``No 
Training Alternative'' may be perceived as causing no significant 
environmental impacts, it does not necessarily foster continued 
stewardship in areas that will remain free of development, and does not 
meet the stated purpose and need for maintaining the operational 
readiness of USCINCPAC forces.
    The EIS evaluated a mix of activities with variable schedules of 
activities at each site, training event duration, and numbers and types 
of participating units. The findings of the EIS reflect this dynamic 
training environment and potential changes to military training 
missions that require continuous environmental monitoring and 
evaluation of direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. Training 
management measures will be modified whenever (1) it is discovered that 
the environmental effects of ongoing activities are significantly and 
qualitatively different or more severe than predicted, and (2) a new 
training activity represents a substantial change from existing 
activities and has the potential for generating significant 
environmental impacts. Under these circumstances, USCINCPAC REP GUAM/
CNMI will review the issues with appropriate regulatory agency 
representatives to determine and implement appropriate mitigation 
measures.
    Accordingly, training in the Mariana Islands will be conducted in a 
manner that is consistent with the Preferred Training Land Use 
Alternative as identified in the Marianas Training Environmental Impact 
Statement.

    Dated: July 28, 1999.
Rear Admiral J.W. Greenert,
USCINCPAC REP GUAM/CNMI.
[FR Doc. 99-21375 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-01-P